Rapper Young Thug and his YSL collective attempted to disqualify the lead prosecutor in the high-profile RICO case, but they were denied.
Young Thug, also known as Thugger, and his attorney Brian Steel had submitted a motion to remove Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love from the case.
They argued that Love’s involvement threatened Thug’s right to a fair trial. The defense claimed that Love had become an unsworn witness due to her line of questioning during the trial.
However, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office countered this claim, stating that the defense had not provided any compelling reason for Love’s disqualification.
Judge Ural Glanville, ruling on the motion, sided with the prosecution. He stated that Love could continue to oversee the trial.
Watch the judgment below:
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Young Thug’s RICO trial
The trial, which has been ongoing for four months, shows no signs of concluding soon. Out of the 153 witnesses listed, only around 40 have testified so far. The trial is expected to continue for the remainder of the year.
The trial has been marked by drama, including the arrest of a YSL defense attorney, Nicole Fegan, on gang-related charges. Fegan, who represents Tenquarius Mender, was charged with participating in criminal street gang activity and solicitation to tamper with evidence.
These charges are not directly related to the YSL RICO trial but stem from Fegan’s alleged involvement in a separate shooting incident in Atlanta in December 2022.
Young Thug and five other defendants are on trial as part of a RICO case alleging that YSL is a street gang involved in a series of violent crimes. The defense maintains that YSL is Young Thug’s record label, Young Stoner Life.
Young Thug faces eight charges, including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, participation in criminal street gang activity, and various drugs and weapons offenses. The 32-year-old rapper has consistently maintained his innocence since his arrest in May 2022 and has been in custody since then, having been denied bond on multiple occasions.